This is news to me, as well as the former deception re the marriage to Rachel, Laban has also been deceptive with Jacob’s wages. Gosh, if he does this to a relative, what would he do to an enemy?!

This whole time Jacob has been abiding “in Him” , God. Knowing he is where he is meant to be. Now it is time to move on. He continues to bring his wives into the picture.

He is arguing his case, their father’s countenance is not favourable to him, yet all he has done is serve their father wholeheartedly.

David Guzik writes: You know shows Jacob knew his wives were aware of his righteous conduct and Laban’s unfair treatment of him.

He begins to explain the reasoning behind the decision, on the direction he is taking them, so they understand.

He begins with turning their minds toward the fact that even though he had come to live with them and was dependant on their father,  their father has not been favourable toward him, but in spite of this, he had still been blessed and increased, and Jacob accounts this to God. His God, the God of his fathers.

Jacob has direction and now it is time to move into action, he needs to inform his wives.

John Gill notes: Rachel is mentioned first, as being his proper and lawful wife, and is only called so, (Genesis 46:19) ; and it was for her sake Jacob had Leah.

Some commentators mention that possibly it was sheep shearing time and festivities were taking place at the field and that is why he sent for them there, and /or for privacy to consult with them as back in the tents they could be overheard.

It is heartening to see Jacob did not just react and run from the worsening situation with Laban and his sons, he sought the Lord. He would have needed to hear the word of the Lord saying “I will be with you” because he would be fully aware his brother would probably want him dead, and would not be favourable to his return.

David Guzik writes: Even if Jacob never knew it, God had been preparing him for this time. First, God gave him the desire to go back home (Genesis 30:25), then his present circumstances became unbearable. Finally, the Lord gave personal direction to Jacob.

 He also adds that often God leads us in the same pattern.

Adam Clarke writes: And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return-and I will be with thee.                                                I will take the same care of thee in thy return, as I took of thee on thy way to this place. The Targum reads, My WORD shall be for thy help, see Genesis 15:1. A promise of this kind was essentially necessary for the encouragement of Jacob, especially at this time; and no doubt it was a powerful means of support to him through the whole journey; and it was particularly so when he heard that his brother was coming to meet him, with four hundred men in his retinue, Genesis 32:6. At that time he went and pleaded the very words of this promise with God, Genesis 32:9.

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown write: Having been conducted to Haran by God (Ge 28:15) and having got a promise that the same heavenly Guardian would bring him again into the land of Canaan, he might have thought he ought not to leave it, without being clearly persuaded as to the path of duty. So ought we to set the Lord before us, and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, our journeys, our settlements, and plans in life.

Jacob has heard the “sour” words of Laban’s sons toward him and the changed countenance of Laban also, and it would seem by the following verse that Jacob is unsettled and seeks God for direction

I could imagine this could be a dangerous place to be in for Jacob, knowing Laban’s sons are resentful toward him.

From John Gill: and it was so far true what they say, that it was out of their father’s flock that Jacob got all his increase; but then it was according to a covenant that Laban and he entered into, and therefore was obtained in a just and lawful manner. But as another commentator says, envy distorts everything.

How Jacob’s life has turned around. He was sent off from home with nothing. He encountered God and trusted God. He has worked hard even after being deceived by his boss and uncle, but he has worked on and God has blessed him and increased him. Even though his wages were at a disadvantage re gaining speckled sheep from solid coloured sheep, God blessed him and the flocks brought forth spotted and speckled – his wages.

John Gill writes: Jacob grew very rich: and had much cattle; the greater part of Laban’s flocks brought forth speckled, spotted, and brown cattle, which, according to agreement, were Jacob’s: and maidservants, and menservants; which he got to take care of his household affairs, and to assist him in keeping his flocks: and camels, and asses; for his flocks increasing so very much, he sold many of his sheep at a good price, as Jarchi observes, and with it bought camels and asses; and these were very fit for his use, when he should be obliged or think fit to remove into his own country, and which he was meditating, and had a direction from the Lord for, as in the following chapter.

David Guzik writes: The Hebrew of verse 43 says, “the man burst out exceedingly exceedingly.” God was really blessing Jacob, but why? Because of how great or good Jacob was? No. It was because of the promises God made to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15) and the covenant made to Abraham. In the same way, blessing comes from the Lord to us, not because we are great or good, but because of the covenant God has made with us through Jesus, and promises He has given us in His word.

I must add to what David Guzik has written though, yes I agree, but also Jacob has positioned himself to receive the blessing by walking in the Lord, not operating out of his own old devices of deceit etc. We may have the promises, but it is conditional to our walking in obedience.

As we close up this chapter I really like what Adam Clarke has written: We have already seen many difficulties in this chapter, and strange incidents, for which we are not able to account. 1. The vicarious bearing of children; 2. The nature and properties of the mandrakes; 3. The bargain of Jacob and Laban; and 4. The business of the party-coloured flocks produced by means of the females looking at the variegated rods. These, especially the three last, may be ranked among the most difficult things in this book. Without encumbering the page with quotations and opinions, I have given the best sense I could; and think it much better and safer to confess ignorance, than, under the semblance of wisdom and learning, to multiply conjectures.

As David Guzik writes: Jacob also used selective breeding to increase the strength and vitality of his flock.

Jacob uses wisdom to build his own flock, but I am still perplexed by the method!

Adam Clarke elaborates on the meaning of the word “stronger” here: The word mekushsharoth, which we translate stronger, is understood by several of the ancient interpreters as signifying the early, first-born, or early spring cattle; and hence it is opposed to atuphim, which we translate feeble, and which Symmachus properly renders δευτερογονοι, cattle of the second birth, as he renders the word mekushsharoth by πρωτογονοι, cattle of the first or earliest birth. Now this does not apply merely to two births from the same female in one year, which actually did take place according to the rabbins, the first in Nisan, about our March, and the second in Tisri, about our September; but it more particularly refers to early and late lambs, same year; as those that are born just at the termination of winter, and in the very commencement of spring, are every way more valuable than those which were born later in the same spring. Jacob therefore took good heed not to try his experiments with those late produced cattle, because he knew these would produce a degenerate breed, but with the early cattle, which were strong and vigorous, by which his breed must be improved. Hence the whole flock of Laban must be necessarily injured, while Jacob’s flock was preserved in a state of increasing perfection. All this proves a consummate knowledge in Jacob of his pastoral office. If extensive breeders in this country were to attend to the same plan, our breed would be improved in a most eminent degree. What a fund of instruction upon almost every subject is to be found in the sacred writings!